Thai police finding cause of death of "Pearl of Asia"

NAKHON PATHOM, September 10 (TNA) - Local police are speeding up their investigation into the cause of death of a famous Thai actress, Paowana Chanajit, dubbed the "Pearl of Asia", who was found dead early Monday morning in the compound of her own house in Bangkok's suburban Nakhon Pathom Province, but her family said she was likely to be murdered. The police reported that the body of the 69-year-old former Thai actress was found near a pond inside her house at about 3am local time and was later sent to the Forensics Department for an autopsy. Paowana's adopted son, Apicha Laosaeng-thong, told the police that he received a phone call from a maid Sunday evening, informing him that his mother was missing; so, he called on other relatives to help search for his mother. Apicha said when he got to his mother's house, he was told to leave by his mother male companion, Nattapong Luang-sirikul, whom the maid said had had repeated arguments with his mother and even once threatened her with a gun. Nattapong, meanwhile, told the police investigators that the actress liked to worship sacred spirits near the pond and might have fainted and died. The real name of Paowana Chanajit was Aranyaporn Laosaeng-thong. She was a famous Thai actress in her days, starring in a number of films and was dubbed the Pearl of Asia. She starred in first movie in 1960's "Seang-Soon". (TNA)